September 2014

September 30, 2014

Good Morning! Today I, along with a few other Papertrey Ink designers, are introducing you to the new Make it Market Kit: Tinsel & Tags. It is truly a feast for the eyes! Here's a bit about the kit:

"One of the truly great joys for paper crafters during the holiday season is putting together coordinated wraps and tags for those we care about most. Betsy's new kit takes this joy to a whole new level with keepsake ornament tags, trendy colors and patterns, gorgeous ribbons and trims, versatile stamps and innovative dies! Create miniature winter wonderlands, layer perfectly planned images to create multi-color tags. Each and every piece of this kit will be used to create masterpieces that will make your recipients smile with joy and wonder!"

The total retail cost of the Tinsel & Tags Main Kit is $100. The total retail cost of the Tinsel & Tags Trimmings Kit is $35. There will be a limited number of these exclusive kits available, so be sure to get yours tomorrow! The Tinsel & Tags Kit will be available for sale beginning on October 1st at 10pm EST, only at Papertrey Ink. Read all the details on Nichole's blog or contact Customer Service with any questions.

Here are a few things I made using contents of both the Main and Trimmings kits.

My first project is a layered tag, complete with a winter wonderland scene :). I absolutely adore the images included in the stamp sets. They are just sweet and charming.

I also have a thing for the darling, miniature deer, bottlebrush trees, clothespins, etc. Every last detail makes this kit so special and unique.

Next up, I used the lovely aqua box from the Trimmings kit and created a fun holiday wrap using the dies for layering, the stamps for adding details...

A globe where I could contain my little village, and of course, some fun, faux snow.

I used the stamps and dies on the edge of the box to create a handmade label, and wrapped everything up in Tinsel & Tags patterned paper.

Can you see why I love these stamps :)?

Lastly, I used the organza gift bag and wrapped it up with a tag, die cut from the Tinsel & Tags paper pack, adn simply embellished it with a bottlebrush tree, stamped berries, flowers, and springs, ribbon, and a twist tie.

Sigh....blissful and wonderful :).

Across the bottom, I dressed up the bag with some Tiffany Blue scallop trim, self-adhesive, which makes it so handy.

I can't wait to see what the other designers have come up with using Tinsel & Tags. Thanks so much for stopping by.

September 29, 2014

Good morning! I hope your Monday is off to a great start. I have a new Make it Monday video up on Nichole Heady's blog for Papertrey Ink.

For my tutorial, I pulled out my Mason Jars and acrylic paint and set to work. I used chalk paint for my three jars just because I love the milky finish, but any acrylic paint will work. After my jars were dry, I used my Versamark Watermark ink and stamps to stamp directly onto my jars. My first jar shown here, uses silver embossing powder and the tiny star from the Believe stamp set.

Here's a peek at the back of my jar, because, yes...even the back is cute :). I love watching the texture come through as I sand off some of the paint on each jar. I embellished the centers of my stars using my favorite new find, Pearlescents by Bo Bunny.

Around the neck of my jar I attached pom pom trim and tissue paper garland and then adhered a fun junk bow made using scraps of vintage trim, tea stained twill, and My Craft Spot scrunched seam binding, and then attached a silver glittered jingle bell and stamped tag using the 2012 Holiday Tags stamp set.

I then hung a silver star ornament on my jar and embellished the center with snowflakes cut using the Fancy Flakes die collection.

I used a smaller jar for this gift and a different color of chalk paint. I love these lovely, shabby pastels :).

I stamped snowflakes around this jar using images from In the Meadow and embossed them using white embossing powder and a Vintage Mint powder from Recollections.

I adhered another junk bow, tissue paper garland and stamped tag at the top of my jar. This tag was cut using the Tremendous Tags die and stamped using images from the 2010 Holiday Tags stamp set.

And, this is the project I created for my tutorial. I'll walk you through each step and show you how I put it all together. You can tune in HERE.

September 24, 2014

For my card today, I pulled out The Sweet Life collection from Melissa Frances and mixed it with a few of my other favorite collections. If you haven't visited Everyday is a Holiday, you just have to...it's a place filled with pink, aqua, and happiness. Jenny and Aaron are the creators of this sweet line for Melissa Frances. Treat yourself :).

My background paper is from the Classic Elegance collection. The colors and patterns tie in so perfectly with The Sweet Life. And I love using a Melissa Frances vellum envelope whenever possible, as they create such a soft background effect.

Melissa Frances German Glass Glitter around the outside of my journal cards is a favorite technique of mine and brings in some sparkle and shine and I love using this lovely glitter so much that I added it to my second card as well.

For this card, I used one of my most favorite images and sentiments found on a Sweet Life journal card.

I added a large resin wreath applique to frame in this sweet face :).

A bit of pink crocheted trim near the bottom edge mixed with patterned paper and my card is ready to share with someone special.

As always, the beautiful scrunched seam binding used on my cards today is from My Craft Spot.

September 22, 2014

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a Crate Colour project created for Crate Paper using their sweetest new collection, Notes & Things. I love letting color inspire me, it's one of my most favorite starting points. The new Notes & Things collection is packed with lovely colors, from soft and subtle, to juicy and vibrant. My projects were inspired by the colors found in the photo above.

I began with some 12x12 Notes & Things double-sided patterned paper and my favorite pocket die from Sizzix, the Bigz Pocket w/ Scallop Edge die, with the idea of creating a few pocket notes with tags. I love that the paper is double-sided so that you catch a glimpse of the fun patterns and colors on the inside of the pocket as well as the outside.

After assembling each die cut pocket, I started embellishing the front using elements from Notes & Things like Chipboard Frames, Mixed Tags, and Standouts Layered Stickers.

I wanted to create some scrappy dimensional bows to embellish my pockets so I pulled out my Styleboard dies and created a few to add some character and personality. I dressed up the center of each using things like trim and sequins, a staple, button, etc.

I used vellum behind each chipboard frame in order to soften things up a bit, and also because vellum is such a beautiful and versatile element.

I used Notes & Things Cardstock Stickers Kraft Label Stickers to embellish my pockets and tags as well as Styleboard Gold Label Maker Stickers. Little touches of gold add so much charm.

A few Love Notes Badges were also used along with one of my favorite finishing touches, the dots from the Wisecrack Gold Glitter Thickers...so much fun.

The Standouts Layered Stickers are so sweet. Most definitely one of my most favorite Notes & Things products.

Another favorite Notes & Things product are the Kraft Label Stickers. I love the sweet and simple messages they carry.

September 19, 2014

Good morning! Welcome to Papertrey Ink's Tips & Tricks for the week. Today it's my turn to share with you a fun technique and a couple of projects. I've decided to focus my post on my latest favorite medium, vellum.

Step 2: Adhere your shapes, very loosely, over the background of your choice. I selected Vintage Cream cardstock for this card.

Step 3: Run your vellum shapes and background through your die cut machine with your chosen die. Choose something that is large enough to show off your shapes and create a large focal point. I used the Monthly Moments: Journal Card 2 die.

Step 4: You could stop with Step 3, but if you'd like, take it one step further by coating your die cut, vellum covered base with white glitter. I use Krylon Spray Adhesive and Doodlebug Lily White glitter.

That's it! Now all you've got to to is choose how to embellish your beautiful vellum background. I used two more die cut vellum Fancy Flakes and topped them with a vintage trim, die cut Christmas Poinsettia and vintage button.

I've created a second card for you using a die from the Leaf Prints collection. I've layered my vellum cut leaves over Kraft cardstock this time to show you how this technique looks using a different background color.

September 18, 2014

With autumn-time upon us, I am trying to use up as many of my favorite fall products as possible, before this fun time of year has come and gone. One of my new favorite collections is used on today's card. An Eerie Tale by Graphic 45 is so sweet and truly bewitching. I love the soft shades used throughout mixed with fairytale images.

September 15, 2014

Hello there. Today I have a couple of fun projects to share with you that I recently created for Emma's Paperie. This first was especially fun to create as it is all about this lovely time of year. Apples are everywhere right now, in fact, I've got a box ready to make into apple pie filling and applesauce this week. I can't wait for the smell to float through the house :).

I used Simple Stories paper and cardstock stickers on this card with a bit of denim ribbon thrown in to tie the look together.

September 14, 2014

Morning :). Welcome back to another fun Papertrey Ink group post. Today's post is all about books with the new Book Club stamp set showcased along with the bookmark dies. Let's get started. I created an anniversary card for my first project using the quote from Little Women...one of my favorite books and most definitely an occasion I enjoy creating for.

Along with this sentiment from the Book Club stamp set I pulled out an older set, First Fruits and embossed my images on a die cut vellum tag, cut using the Tag Sale #1 die.

I embossed my image in 3 different colors, white, gold, and silver and love how elegant and classic it turned out. Perfect for such a lovely occasion.

My bookmark uses one of three new bookmark dies available this month. I love, love, love them all, but my heart sure does think this one is pretty sweet looking.

I die cut my bookmark from two different patterns and pieced them together and added a glittered scalloped border using the Be Happy die. The top of my tag is embellished with a felt and vintage lace flower die cut using the Be Happy die as well and then embellished with a Melon Berry button.

I used this sentiment from Book Club with my little girl in mind as she is such a bookworm, and I love to encourage her to view the world and all of its beauty as a gift, just as this quote says. I then finished it off with "choose joy" from Book Club as well. Something I hope she always chooses. These tiny sentiments fit perfectly inside the A Few Pointers die.

Moving on to a Christmas tag created using this same bookmark die, the Basic Bookmark 3 die, to show how perfect these are as tags not just bookmarks. I'll be getting so much use out of these as I love to make tags.

At the bottom of my tag I stamped a flourish using the Autumn Adornments stamp set and then added my sentiment using the new Keep it Simple: Christmas stamp set. I think it's so much fun to give away pretty packages at Christmas or for any occasion, and the tag can add so much personality and character to a simple glassine or organza bag...even a basic kraft bag.

And lastly, I have used the new Stitched Bookmark die here and combined it with vellum, patterned paper, and sequins to create a bookmark full of confetti.

Before stitching my layers together, I used the No Strings Attached stamp set and embossed my image near the upper corner. I added a stamped tag which uses images from the Lovely Layers stamp set.

Across the bottom, once again I used the Be Happy die and some glitter tape. I tied a junk bow at the top using scraps of ribbon and trim, and in just a few minutes, this special little treat was complete. I would love to try more of these in different colors.

All of the other Papertrey Ink designers are using the new Book Club stamp set along with showing you other new Basic Bookmark dies. I can't wait to see what they've created:

September 13, 2014

Ok, are you ready? I have to ask because there has been quite the hub-bub about the new products that Papertrey Ink is sharing with you via all of the design team today....quite the hub-bub. And, for good reason. They are, oh, so amazing and clever, not to mention too cute for words! I have felt like a kid in a candy store, I'd say.

Shaker Shapes die collections! With the accompanying Sparkle & Shine stamp set with Holiday Additions available as well. I was assigned the Shaker Shapes: Tree and created a holiday card filled with sparkly goodness from the outside in.

I used pink glittered paper for the outside of my tree and paper from the new Sparkle & Shine Holiday Patterned Paper collection for the inside. I filled my shaker tree with vellum sequins cut using the new Sequin die. I also filled it with some tiny snowflake confetti cut using the Shaker Shapes: Snow Globe companion nesting die, which cuts tiny flurries for you, in any pattern and color you wish.

My next card is non-holiday and uses the Shaker Shapes: Star without it being an actual shaker. The Sparkle & Shine stamp set is perfect for so many different occasions, and several of the Shaker Shapes too. I used the Sparkle & Shine Holiday Patterned Paper collection once again and selected the printed confetti star and just added die cuts directly over the top to bring it to life and add dimension.

I also used the Sketched Stars die to bring in a variety of shaped stars. My die cut "Sparkle" was cut from glittered paper and creates a perfect focal point for this fun card.

September 12, 2014

**This is my second post for today. Please scroll down just a bit to find my Papertrey Ink Monthly Moments: September projects :).

The challenge at Festive Friday this next couple of weeks is one that speaks directly to my shabby heart. I had so much fun letting the photo below inspire me and I hope that it will inspire you to create as well.

I LOVE this time of year! It has been beautiful thus far and I have been enjoying each minute of it, large and small, except for perhaps my tangle with my husband's truck and the 4-wheeler last weekend, but that's beside the point, isn't it? Welcome Autumn and welcome to Papertrey Ink's Monthly Moments: September group post.

For my pages I used the new Monthly Moments: September stamp set and coordinating die and the fun Journal Card Pad...so irresistible.

This page celebrates the fruits of the season and documents what we love about this time of year. Living in the desert, we LIVE for cool, fall days, jacket weather, watching the colors turn, and enjoying the harvest moon rise each evening. I used the new Monthly Moments: Journal Pocket 3 and slipped in a die cut Tag Sale #5 that I stamped with images and phrases from the Monthly Moments: September stamp set.

Continuing on with my next page, I documented Sierra's first day at school as a big 6th grader, highlighting her John Deere green boots. She has such a funny personality with quite unique taste. No purple and pink for her...she's never loved those colors. She loves green and camo, peace signs and cheetah print. My mom and I had quite a fun time shopping with her for her back to school clothes. I love watching her personality continue to develop.

Tremendous Tag dies, once again provide the perfect spot for stamping little phrases and sentiments to add detail to my pages.

September 10, 2014

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The time when Papertrey Ink releases new Christmas products :). Today I get to share with you one of these new sets, the Season's Greetings stamp set. It's filled with sentiments to last you through the holiday season.

One thing that I love about sentiment sets is combining them with my favorite, previously releases stamp sets, such as the Tremendous Treats: Christmas set, used here. My bird is paper-pieced and also colored using Copics.

My sentiment, from the Season's Greeting stamp set, and my bird, were stamped and adhered to a die cut Tag Sale #5 die. I also used the holiday postmark image from the 2010 Holiday Tags stamp set. The vellum snowflakes are from the Snowflake Medley die collection.

My next card uses a sentiment from the Season's Greetings stamp set again and is combined with a new stamp set called Santa's Sleigh...I love the sweet images in this set.

My sentiment is stamped on a die cut Tremendous Tag, which happens to be the perfect size for many sentiments in the Season's Greetings stamp set. It is tied with Scarlet Jewel Satin ribbon.

Next up is a gift tag created using a die cut, silver glittered, Fancy Flake.

The Season's Greeting sentiment is stamped on a vellum Limitless Layers: 2 1/4" Oval, which is attached to a white Limitless Layers: 2 1/4" Oval. They just have different scallops around the edges, making them fun to layer. I then embellished the tag with die cut Holly Jolly leaves from Limeade Ice felt.

I live for Saturdays at home with my little family. We watch football, haul firewood, drink a Coke or Dr. Pepper, tinker in the garage, play outside and inside, and then have something delicious to eat for dinner, straight from the smoker.

During some downtime today, I headed to my craft room to create for a while and pulled out some stamps that I recently received from Waffle Flower. Have you heard of this company? LOOOOVE! I used the Loved stamp set and a few items from Freckled Fawn. These two companies have been having a blog hop this week with a giveaway. You still have time to enter and can read more about it HERE. I love this fun build a flower set. I t was just what I needed to inspire me today. My sequins are from My Craft Spot...such a fun place to shop for scrunched seam binding, stamps, dies, sequins, baker's twine, etc.

I created my card today with my sweet mom in mind. She has been my lifesaver over the course of these last few weeks...I have needed her and she has been there. Just to listen, to let me do a little crying, or just to let me know that everything is going to be OK. I love her dearly. Words can't describe how much she means to me. She's helping me pick myself up and move forward. And, my pretty blue dessert plate, from her :)...I have reminders of her and her goodness all around me in my home and love feeling closer to her as I use them.

September 04, 2014

Right before my very eyes, my baby girl has grown, sprouted upwards, and taken flight. What a miracle she is in our lives. How did we get so lucky? Whatever did I do to deserve this beautiful, charming, little soul?

She has legs the never end, is tall and willowy, has an inquisitive and curious mind, blue, blue eyes and long lashes, a smile that tugs at your heart strings, and is just as big of tease as her daddy :). We waited many long years for Heavenly Father to pick us to be her parents and each tear that fell in the process has been worth it all.

I remember knowing she had been born, getting the call that her birthmother was in labor, and traveling the long distance to get as close to her as we could, and then waiting 2 days for her to be placed in our arms. I remember the call that came saying her sweet birthmother wanted more time with her and just wasn't ready yet...I still remember the fear and unspeakable heartbreak that came with that call...but I can understand why she wanted to hold onto her dear baby girl just a bit longer. I love her for this beautiful gift she gave us...one we couldn't give ourselves. My heart is full of gratitude and love for our little girl, her birthmother and father, the journey we took to find her, and for the greater plan behind it all. I would wait a lifetime for her if that's what I had to do :).

My card today was created for Emma's Paperie and is based on a sketch you can find there. All of the fun supplies used on this card can be found HERE at Emma's.

My layout celebrates Sierra at just about 24 months old and I used Papertrey Ink's Big Ticket Basics stamp set and die collection and the Fabulous Frames stamp set and die collection.

September 02, 2014

With September officially here and Labor Day weekend come and gone, my mind has switched gears to my most favorite season, fall! This is my favorite time of year to craft and decorate and enjoy in every way possible...cozy, comfort soups, bread and cinnamon rolls, the smell of spices and pumpkin, cornstalks, apple pie, etc. So, gear up for some fun fall projects and many holiday creations as well. I'm convinced this time of year just doesn't last long enough :).

I love the mix of warm, traditional colors in this set combined with a bit of grey, how beautiful! These cards were so easy to pull together using dies found in the Ephemera pack. I just did a little layering and added in a bit of chipboard, and they were complete.

Of course, a few of the Candy Cane Lane sequins and enamel dots were needed too :)...who can resist?

And a bit of glitter tape, because glitter is a girl's best friend, right?

Finishing touches make me happy, how about you? Do you have a favorite last minute touch? Sequins, buttons, ribbon, stitching? All of the above :).

September 01, 2014

It's September! Oh, how I love this month. It's beautiful and special and meaningful in so many ways. It's the month my little one becomes a "tween", and the month that holds such sweet memories for my family, and the month that is full of beautiful signs of fall everywhere we look.

The Sr. Papertrey Ink Design Team members are revisiting the Harvest Berries stamp set this month and I couldn't be happier to have a chance to pull this set out as it is one of my favorites. I think it's perfectly suitable for many different seasons, including fall :). I used three different colors of embossing powder and embossed the vines down the right side of my card. I then stamped my berries in a mixture of Melon Berry and Autumn Rose.

I stamped and embossed my sentiment in gold embossing powder on a vellum tag die cut using the Tag Sale #2 die. I attached a strip of Lavender Moon Polka Dot paper down the left side of my card, tied a twill bow, and then attached my vellum tag w/ sentiment and embellished with gold sequins and a Melon Berry button.

I then wanted to wrap up some oatmeal cookies I had just baked and so I created a gift bag using a large glassine bag and the Harvest Berries stamp set. I embossed the left side of the bag using Zing! Powder and gold embossing powder.

I then used the Phrase Play #7 die and adhered the word "thankful" across the bottom in a color coordinating with my flower attached to the top of my package.

I die cut a Tremendous Tag and stitched a stamped label to the center of it, creating a fun homespun, handmade gift tag. This sweet little image and sentiment are also from the Harvest Berries stamp set and is a fun addition for those of you who stamp the back of your cards or like to create handmade gifts.

Be sure to stop and see what the other designers have been working on using this set as well:

My pages document a trip we took my little one on when she was almost 2 years old, in August right before her birthday with all of her tiny cousins. It involved an across the country bus trip to visit Church History sites from New York through the midwest. Such an amazing journey and we were so happy to have her by our side.